Platen roll for writing machines



Aug. 27, 1935. A. .w. METZNER PLATEN ROLL FOR WRITING MACHINES Filed sept. 11, 1933 Patented Aug. 27, 1935 UNITED STATES rLA'rEN non. Fon WRITING MACHINES Albert W. Mctzner, Dayton, Ohio, assigner to The Standard Register Company, Dayton, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Application September-1l, 1933, Serial No. 688,936

' 21 Claims. (Cl. 197--133.)

This invention relates to platen rolls ,for writing machines, and more particularlyto a platen roll especially adapted for manifolding purposes about which writing material maybe fed past 5 4writing position by either positive feeding devices or by frictional feeding means. v

Platen rolls of the present construction are intended for use in typewriters, computing ma-v chines, billing machines, and analogous apparatus, and are made in suitable sizes and proportions corresponding to the original or standard platen rolls of such machines for which the present rolls are to be interchanged. The present platen roll comprises a plurality of sections between which are interposed pin wheel units,

the material feeding pins of which are progressively extended and retracted in unison with the4 rotation of certain of the platen roll sections. The pin wheel units are further adjustable to present the projecting pins alternately in effective and ineffective positions, such alternations being effected in unison with the partial rotary motion of another of the platen roll sections from one position to another. The feeding pins are adjusted to ineffective position when the platen roll is to b`e used for frictional feeding of the writing material at which time the pin wheel unit is masked at the writing position by an overlying portion of one of the sections brought to a 3o position coincident with the writing line simultaneously with the adjustment of the pins to their ineffective positions, to afford a continuous flush impact surface for the imprinting type,

The object of the invention is to simplify the construction as well as the means and mode of operation of writing machine platens, whereby they will not only be cheap in construction,lbut will be more eilicient in use, capable of application to a wider variety of record material and for different purposes, easily controlled and adjusted for different conditions of use, and unlikely to get out of order.

A further and important object of the invention is to provide a platen roll capable of being substituted for the usual platen roll of a typewriting machine, computing machine, billing machine or analogous apparatus by which anordinary commercial typewriter may be quickly and easily converted into a billing machine, and` whereby various forms of commercialcomputing, billing, and writing machines may be readily adapted for manifolding multiple copies which are positively fed past writing position and main-` tained accurately in registering relation with each` other.

writing surface.

' sitions.

A further object of the invention is to provide anv improved platen roll which is readily and quickly convertible 'from positive feeding condition and vice versa.

A- further object of the invention is to providel 5 a pin type feeding device which can be readily and quickly transformed to facilitate frictional feeding of unpunched paper of greater width.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mask or shield for pin type platen rolls by 10 which a continuous `flush tympan or impact surface is afforded at the writing position when the pins are adjusted to inoperative position.`

A further object of the invention is to provide means for presenting a smooth writing area over 15 the positions of pin type feedingdevioes when the latter are retractedl and to provide common adjusting means for the feeding pins and the mask or shield. g

A further object of the' invention is to provide 20 a platen roll having positive material engaging devices which may be substituted for the regular or standard platen rolls of writing machines without conflicting 'or interfering with adjacentk structural parts' vof the writing machine. 25

With the above primary and other incidental objects in view, as will more fully appear in the specification, the invention consists of the features of construction, the parts and combinations thereof, and the mode of operation, or their 30 equivalents, as hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein is shown the preferred but obviously not necessarily the only form of embodiment `of the invention, 35 Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a writing machine platen roll, embodying the present inventiorn wherein the pin wheel units have been adjusted to'present the reciprocatory pinsV in an ineffective feeding position, and the platen roll sections 40 correspondingly relatively adjusted to present the shield or extension across the pin wheel units in writing position to afford a continuous ush Fig. 2 is a similar view of a portion of the platen roll, showing the parts 45 adjusted to alternate positions, wherein the shield extensions have been moved out of writin'g position and the pin wheel units adjusted to present the feeding pins in their effective po- Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a portion of 50 the platen roll, showing the relation /of'the respective sections to the frictional feeding rollers of a conventional writing machine. Fig. 4 is an end view of the platen roll and contiguous coacting parts of a writing machine platen car- 55 riage with the feeding pins adjusted to their effective positions. Fig. 5 is a similar view, wherein the pin wheel unit has been adjusted to present the feeding pins in an ineffective relation with the writing material. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of a portion of the platen roller. Fig. 7 is a similar view, showing the sections of the platen roll relatively separated.

Like parts are indicated byclsmilar characters of reference throughout the several views.

The present platen roll is intended to be interchangeably substitutedl for the usual platen roll of a writing machine, such as a typewriter, computing machine, billing machine, or analogous device, for the purpose of adapting such writing machine to feed the writing material alternately by positive engagement of traveling feeding pins engageable in marginally punched holes in the material and to feed unpunched material by the usual frictional feeding means found in' such writing machines, and to aiord a continuous uninterrupted writing surface.- The writing machine roll, forming the subject matter hereof, comprises multiple sections of which only two sections I and 2 have been shown in the drawing, but which may be extended to -include additional sections. The section I is fixedly secured to the rotary shaft 3 for unison rotation therewith, as, for example, by means of the terminal head 4 having therein a set screw 5, as shown in Fig. l. Obviously other methods of connecting the roll section with the shaft may be employed. The shaft 3 is mountable in the usual journal bearings of a writing machine carriage 6, in which the present platen roll is interchangeably mountable with the standard smooth frictional feeding platen roll with which such machines are ordinarily equipped. Y

Located in the opposite ends of the cylindrical sleeve, comprising the section I of the platen roll, are pin -wheel units, each'comprising a head 4 'having therein radially disposed guides 1, in which are located reciprocatory-feeding pins 8 which are progressively projected beyond the periphery of the platen roll and then retracted interiorly thereof in unison with the rotation of such platen roll section I. To effect such progressive reciprocation of the feeding pins, there is associated with each of the pin wheel units an eccentric cam I0 'which is normally stationarily held in adjusted position and which is provided with a lateral ange II engaging in lateral notches I2 in the reciprocatory pins 8. As the pla-tenroll section rotates the pins 8 travel about Vthe eccentric flange of the cam I0 and are therewill be projected from the platen roll in such position that they will be ineffective to engage the writing material depends ventirely' upon the relative rotative position of th'e cam lIIJwhich shaftV 3 and extending through the respective to rock or partially rotate the tubular sleeve or shaft I3 and thereby rock the cams I0 to alternate positions. 'I'he cam I0 and sleeve I3 are held in their adjusted position by means of a detent plunger I5 engageable in either one of two peripheral notches I6 in the adjusting disc I4. The detent plunger I5 is carried upon a lateral ear Il projecting from a disc I8, which in turn is xedly engageable in any one of several rotative positions with a second disc I9 from which projects a bifurcated arm 20 straddling a frame rod 2| of the writing machine platen carriage.

The rotative adjustability of' the discs I8 and I9 relative to each other is for the purpose of readily accommodating the device to writing machines of different manufacture wherein the accessible frame rod 2| may be differently positioned, and also to enable the operative and inoperative positions of the pins'tobe varied to accommodate Writing machines of different character or manufacture.

The particular pin wheel unit and the specific adjusting means therefor form no part per se of the present invention, but are more fully described and are claimed in acompanion application Serial No. 542,855, led June 8, 1931.

'I'he second section 2 of the platen roll is mounted concentrically with the section I and is xedly secured upon the rock sleeve I3 which also carries the pin control cams I8. The section 2 is provided with a lip or extension 22 which overlaps the pin wheel unit 4 and is movable into and out of writing position by the partial rotation of the sleeve I3, which simultaneously rocks the pin control cams I8 to cause the feeding pins 8 to be projected at an ineffective position, as is illustrated in Fig. 5. The extension or lip 22, upon the platen roll section 2, bridges the intermediate pin wheel unit and forms a continuous uniform writing surface thereacross when the feeding pins 8 are adjusted to their ineffective positions. Being positively connected to the sleeve I3 for unison rocking motion, th'e extension lip.or mask 22 and the feeding pins 8 alternate at the writing line, one being moved into such` operative position as the other is shifted therefrom.

When thefeeding pins 8 are projected'at their effective position, as is shown in Fig. 4, thefriction rolls 23, ordinarily provided in writing machines for cooperation with the platen roll, are' adjusted to their retracted or inoperative position by operation of the usual finger lever 25 found on conventional writing machines. This adjustment of the friction rolls 23 toward and away from the platen roll by means of the finger lever 25 is an adjustment ordinarily providedupon writing machines of the typewriterA or computing machine style. When it is desired to feed unpunched writing material by frictional feeding means, the finger lever 25 is adjusted to bring the friction rolls 23 into feeding contact with the periphery of tne platen roll section I. Whether the Writing material is fed frictionally by the coaction of the platen roll section I and the frictional feeding rolls 23 or fed positively by the operation of the pin wheel units, only the platen roll section I rotates and the shorter section 2 remains stationary in its adjusted position. For this reason the section 2 of dent with the lip or mask extension 22, whereby a slight clearance is provided between the periphery of the platen roll section 2 and the underlying portions of the frictional rollers 23. Some types of. writing machines are provided with additional frictional rollers located above the platen roll and to accommodate such construction the section 2 of the platen roll may, if desired, be provided with an indentation 26 in one side thereof, positioned to coincide with and afford clearance for the overlying friction rolls.

'I'he platen roll sections I and 2 are independently adjustable about the common shaft 3. The rotation of the platen roll section I carries with it the series of feeding pins 8 which are thereby caused to travel about the eccentric cam flange I I and are reciprocated thereby to progressively project the pins beyond the periphery of the platen roll at such radial position as may be determined by the rocking adjustment of the cam I0. The section 2 of the platen roll is likewise adjustable relative to the section I and by its adjustment it changes the position of the cam Il) from that shown in Fig. 4 to that illustrated in Fig. 5, and Vice versa, thereby changing the effective position at which the pins are projected. 'I'he disc I4 being also connected to the rock sleeve I3 to which the section 2 is fxedly connected, the engaging detent i5 serves to hold the section 2 in its adjusted position. When adjusted to present the cam i0 in the position shown in Fig. 5 whereby the pins will be projected in ineffective position, the mask extension or lip 2 is positioned at the writing line in overlapping relation with the pin wheel unit and serves to close the pin openings therein and present a ush uniform writing surface. This enables the use of. unpunched paper which may be of greater width'than the distance between the pin wheel units. From the above description it will be apparent that there is thus provided a device of the char- Y acter described possessing the particular features of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but which obviously is susceptible-of modification in its form, proportions, detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the principle involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprise the preferred form of several modes of putting the invention into effect, and the invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A platen roll for writing machines including axially aligned cylindrical sections mounted for independent rotary motion of one section relative to the other, a pin wheelunit associated therewith, material engaging pins carried by the` unit and adjustable to present the pins in effective and ineffective relation with writing materialv associated with the platen roll, and an extension upon one of. the sections overlapping the pin wheel unit and movable into and out of writing position to afford a continuous uniform Writing surface across the pin wheel unit when the pins are in ineffective relation.

2. A platen roll for writing machines including axially aligned cylindrical sections mounted for independent rotary motion of one section relative to the other, a pin wheel unit interposed therebetween, material engaging pins carried by the unit and adjustable to present the pins in effective and ineffective relation with writing material associated with the platen roll, an extension upon one of the sections overlapping the pin wheel unit and movable into and out of writing position to afford a continuous uniform writing surface across the pin wheel unit when the pins are in ineffective relation, and vmeans common to the pins and extension carrying section for alternating the operative relation of the pins and extension with the writing material.

3. A platen roll for writing machines including axially aligned cylindrical sections mounted for independent rotary motion of one section relative to the other, a pin wheel unit associated therewith, material engaging pins carried by the unit and adjustable to present the pins in effective and ineiective relation with the writing material associated with the platen -roll, and an extension on one of the sections overlappingthe pin wheel unit to form a continuous uniform writing surface thereacross.

4. A writing machine platen including relatively revoluble axially aligned sections, a pin wheel unit associated with the sections, retractible material feeding pins in said unit, and means for progressively retracting and extending the feeding pins in unison with the relative rotation of the respective platen sections.

5. A writing machine platen including relatively revoluble axially aligned sections,` a pin Wheel unit interposed tween the sections, retractible material lfeeding pins in said unit, means for progressively retracting and extending the feeding pins in unison with the relative rotation of the respective platen sections, and anv extension on one of the sections overhanging the pin wheel unit to afford a continuous writing surface when the pins at such point are Withdrawn.

6. A Writing machine platen roll including relatively rotatable sections, a pin wheel unit associated with the sections, retractable and extendible material feeding pins mounted in said unit, means for retracting and extending the pins by relative rotation of one of the sections, and means for circumferentially changing the positions of extension and retraction of the pins by rotation of another section.

'1. A writing machine platen including relatively rotatable sections, a pin wheel unit interposed between the sections, material feeding pins carried thereby adjustable to operative and inoperative position by the rotation of one of said sections, and an extension on said section overhanging the pin wheel unit and adjustable into and out of Writing position alternately with the material feeding pins.

8. A writing machine platen including relatively rotatable sections, a pin wheel unit associated with the sections, material feeding pins carried thereby, means for progressively extending and retracting said pins bythe rotation of one of the sections, and means for circumferentially changing the operative and inoperative positions of extension of the pins by the rotation of another section.

9. A writing machine platen including relatively rotatable sections, a pin wheel unit interposed between the sections, material feeding pins carried thereby adjustable to operative and incarried thereby adjustable 'to operative and inoperative positions, and an extension on one of the sections movable intorand out of writing position simultaneously with the movement of the pins into and out of inoperative position.

11. A writing machine platen roll including relatively revoluble sections, a pin wheel unit associated therewith, radially reciprocatory material feeding pins carried thereby having effective and. ineiective positions of operation, means operative by the relative rotation of one section for reciprocating the pins, and means effective by rotation of another section for determining` the effective and ineii'ective positions of operation of the pins. A

12. lA platen roll for a writing machine adapted V for alternate positive and frictional feeding of writing material, including a plurality of roll sections, material feeding pins associated therewith and adjustable to effective and ineffective positions of operation, friction rollers engageable with one of said sections independently of another section thereof, one of said sections having an extension thereon bridging the pin wheel unit in proximate relation with the adjacent section.

13. A writing machine platen including relatively revoluble axially aligned sections, a rotary pin wheel unit associated with the sections, extendible and retractible material feeding pins in` said unit, means for progressively extending and retracting Vthe pins in unison with the rotation of one. section, a'nd means for effecting extension and retraction of the pins at different positions in accordance with the rotative aciustment of the other section.

14. A writing machine platen including relatively revoluble axially aligned sections, a rotary pin wheel unit interposed between the sections, extendible and retractible material feeding pins in said unit, progressively extendible and retractible at different points in their path of rotation and control means by which the progressive extension and retraction of the pins is governed by the rotary adjustment of one section and the position of rotary travel at which such extension and retraction occurs is governed by the rotary adjustment `oi? the other section.

15. A writing machine platen including a plurality of relatively rotatable sections, a series of retractible feeding pins carried by one ofthe sections, means for effecting the extension of the retractible pins at different relatively spaced points and a shield carried by another section and overlying one position of projection of the pins when suchl pins are being projected at a different point.

16. A writing machine platen including a plurality of relatively rotatable sections, a series of retractible feeding pins carried Yby one of the sections, a shield carried by another section for overlying the position at which such pins are projected, and control means for alternating the position of the shield and that at which the retrac# tible pins are projected.

17. A writing machine platen including a. plurality of relatively rotatable sections, a series of retractible feeding pins carried by one of the sections and projectable into operative position substantially at the writing line of the machine, a shield carried by another section of the platen and movable into and' out of like position at the writing line, and control means for alternating the feeding pins and the shield at the writing line.

18. A writing machine platen including a plurality of relatively rotatable sections, a series of retractible feeding pins carried by one of said sections extendible in oilset relation with the writing line of the platen, and a shield carried byanother of said sections and operable in the writing line of the platen to aiord a continuous writing surface past the position of the pins. Y 19. A writing machine platen including rela tively revoluble axially aligned sections, at least onesection being adapted for continuous rotary movement and another section for partial rotary movement, a pin wheel unit interposed between the sections, retractible material feeding pins in said unit, and means for progressively retracting and extending the feeding pins in unison with.

the relative rotation of one of the sections.

20. A writing machine platen including relativelyrotatable sections, a pin wheel unit associated with the sections, material feeding pins carried thereby adjustable to operative and inoperative position, an extension on one section overhanging the pin feed device, and means common to the sections for simultaneously changing the relative positions of the pins and overhanging section with regard to the writing position of the machine. `21. A writing machine platen including relatively rotatable sections, a pin wheel unit interposed between the sections, material feeding pins carried thereby adjustable to operative and-inoperative positions, and an extension on one of the sections movable into and out of writing position simultaneously with the movement of the pins into and out of inoperative position, one section being adapted for continuous circumferential operation and another section having a limited movement of less than a complete cycle of the platen circumference.

ALBERT W. METZNER. 

